In order to maintain a steady supply of water, food, ammunition, weapons and more things for the Roman armies during campaigns. So, did their logistics system help them a lot in their conquests?
What was the Roman logistics system?
In order to maintain a steady supply of water, food, ammunition, weapons and more things for the Roman armies during campaigns. So, did their logistics system help them a lot in their conquests?
Last edited by twgamer20197; May 18, 2019 at 10:01 PM.
Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
Specially during a campaign if they were on a hurry to reach a specific destination. And how many pounds of package did they usually carry on them?
Last edited by twgamer20197; May 18, 2019 at 10:14 PM.
Campidoctor
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
I would say that Romes logistical supply system in tandem with its massive networks of roads and the versatility and mobility of its legions were absolutely fundamental to Rome’s military successes, yes. It did more then just “help them allot” on their conquests, I’m of the firm belief that without these innovations, Rome would have been nowhere near as successful as it had been.
To answer the question you’ve posed in the title, ancient Rome had an extensive military logistical supply system, which utilised multiple methods of supply. While there was no specialised branch devoted to logistics and transportation (as there is many armed forces today) the Roman Navy was integral in Rome’s abilities to supply its armies, due to the ease and low cost of transporting goods via sea/rivers. Rome’s invasion into Germanic, according to archeological evidence suggests that legions were largely supplied via this method. Roman roads, as I mentioned above, also aided in supply its legions. These allowed for rapid movement of supplies via fixed supply chains, castrum (forts) and supply depots which were spread out across Rome’s borders and deep within the Empire itself.
EDIT:
It’s also worth noting that the Roman legions themselves often carried their own supplies which were supplemented by hunting and gathering, purchasing goods from locals and raiding and pillaging.
Last edited by isa0005; May 19, 2019 at 12:36 AM.
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
King Harold was able to march his troops from Stamforf Bridge south about 200 miles in about a week, around 25 miles a day, so the Romans should have been able to travel similar distances a day. If probably would make a difference if the Romans were traveling over Roman roads, and in friendly territory, or if the marching was in enemy territory over rough terrain. Still, no reason Romans couldn't travel 20 miles a day for several days in a row.
I read that the average Roman soldier carrier around 80lbs while on the march. However. I wonder if for a fast match the Roman legionaire would carry all 80 lbs. The Romans also had.ot of mules that carrier supplies for the legion as well.
Last edited by Common Soldier; May 19, 2019 at 01:45 AM.
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
C. Claudius Nero reportedly marched a picked force of 6000 infantry and 1000 cavalry over 300 miles in 7 days. In his case he was marching over friendly territory, and had envoys ride before him ordering communities to provide them with supplies.
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
20 miles per day for several days were surely possible, as common soldier and pannonian have pointed out.
The important question is, what are the circumstances? Are the Romans marching in hostile or friendly territory? How much cavalry do they have? Where are they marching? What season is it?
Let`s take regular day of a roman Army (two legion) on campaign in the german wilderness:
- Waking up with sunrise
- roll call
- breakfast (Bread was often baked for three or four days in advance)
- breaking down of the fortified camp
- loading of the mules and wagons
- forming up in a marching column (we have around 15.000 men to form up, this takes time)
- marching
- stopping while there is still enough daylight to build a new fortified camp
And that`s without any contact with wild unwashed germans.
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
The usage of waterways can`t be stressed enough.
Up to modern times, the only way to transport huge amounts of goods were ships. The most important thing to transport was grain. Lots of grain. Everything else (armour, swords, arrowsheads, strawberries) can be neclected, the thing which won or lost wars was the supply with grain.
Another important asset was the fodder for the horses and mules, but this was to bulky to supply and had therefore to be gathered by foraging.... but foraging will slow your army down and make you vunerable because of the dispersion of troops.
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
"Vegetius reports that the Roman soldier normally carried 60 roman pounds (20 kg. or 43 lbs.) in addition to his arms"Originally Posted by twgamer20197
This comes from this book, which should give you responses to all your questions on this subject.
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
@Erken: Totally forgot about this Book, its a very good read on the topic!
Have some rep.
Primicerius
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
Did the Romans have any water sanitation techniques in case there wasn't any clean water source nearby the place where they stopped to build the camp?
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
Polybius has a lot of detail on how the Romans scouted and prepared the site for their camp, including the army commander personally surveying the location. There are examples where opposing armies were drawn into battle from a dispute over a shared water source. There are also examples of camps being broken because an army runs out of essential resources and has to find a better site.
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
Water access is one of the great elements in logistics, and has played a huge role in many famous battles (Hattin and Plataea are obvious examples).
There's a widely accepted view of the late Republican/early Imperial Roman army as extremely professional. English and US historians often mention the role of experienced centurions (Sgt Major types) supporting nervous young officers from the upper classes, which is a trope from the armies of Victorian Britain and certain Vietnam movies. It might even be true, who knows.
Whatever the case it appears the Roman army in the period was a strongly established institution that produced well trained versatile warriors at all levels and was able to pass on a body of practical knowledge. The officers had experience from the offices they held on the cursus honourum as engineers, party organisers, judges and junior officers. the men were professional from the time of Marius and were drilled in manoeuvre, marching as well as hard work digging and building.
As permanently standing bodies of men replaced piecemeal they did not experience the feudal and classical problem of an army disbanding at the end of a campaign season so the farmers could go back to their farms: the standing army was in a position to preserve positive experience and address problems in a way other military systems cannot.
No doubt lessons learned by the Republic fighting the Cimbri were remembered in some form by legionnaires combating the Dacians. Essential logistical doctrine like "secure your water source" was likely handed down informally by Consuls or praetors (recalling their own blunders in the past) to military tribunes and likewise from grizzled centurions to raw recruits "move that ****ing trench line out two paces you useless Thrakian git! You want to leave the spring outside the wall you fool? Thats how we lost a maniple to the Lussotani back when we were hunting Sertorius in Hispania, those were the days..."
Maybe there were actual manuals (for the officers), of which Vegetius is a dim echo? Be nice to find some Augustan drill manuals. "Remember the pilum has the long bendy metal bit because...[text lost]....which is obvious when you think about it really, so simple that we don't need to write it again".
Jatte lambastes Calico Rat
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
Let's say in unknown territory where they didn't know how would the people from there would react. And in summer or spring
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
I see. Then, they first made sure there were drinkable water sources near the site where they planned to camp.
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
That doesn't seem to be so heavy. Many people would be able to handle it.
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
So that means the Roman soldiers' diet mainly consisted of grains. What specific grains did they normally consume?
Re: Did the Roman legionaries sometimes march 20 miles per day for several days in a row?
That's about 42.85 miles a day. It means the legionnaries were in a very good shape.
Re: What was the Roman logistics system?
That seems a very well organised logistics system. But what about the other armies from the other nations during both the Roman Republic and Imperial Rome ages? Were their logistics system of inferior quality?
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